SPOTTED FLYCATCHERS IN ALICANTE

It's July. It's very hot. We knew that we needed to get out before the sun broke over the edge of the sea. Our mission was simply to find Flycatchers and to check on their breast and head markings. The bird books don't talk this bird up, but for me it's a little beauty. It's dapper, its energetic and it perches.

We found an abundant number of Spotted Flycatchers ( Muscicapa Striata - Papamoscas Gris) along the Carabassi Road flying in and around the lines of pines. With the sun very low and the dapple shade caused by the trees we had to work hard to get clear views of these incredibly active birds. We managed it, but had to re-visit them to enable clear photos to be taken. In the heat of the late morning it was done.

Bryan Thomas’s blog of 1st July details the differences we were looking for. (birdingcostablanca.blogspot.org) The experts have announced different sub-species. The one mentioned above that many of us have been used to and ‘The Mediterranean’ one officially known as Muscicapa Tyrrhenian. There is more detail available if you wish to search for it.

We looked for a much plainer breast with none of the heavier markings of Muscicapa Striata. Also to note the pale crown stripes of our Med bird. The photographs show better than words can.

This was a very interesting hour or so and I was reassured that we had found a substantial population of these underrated birds. After a while we started to notice the differences more easily.

We moved on as we had not checked out many of our local spots. Our first stop was opposite Playa Lisa on N332 just down the road from the Santa Pola turning. As usual a Zitting Cisticola called and flew. The main water yielded little except for Whiskered Terns flying and some Slender-Billed Gulls. On the Salinas opposite were Yellow Legged, Audouin’s and more than fifty Med Gulls with both adults and juveniles mixed in. Overhead, numerous Little Terns flew and screeched.

The Salt Tower pull-in looked at empty water but ‘the standing stones’ area was great. A Black-crowned Night Heron flew over. Another perched and was joined by one more. At least five Grey Herons stood around. Whiskered Terns again and in the distance eight Spoonbills that maybe an indication that the birds are on the move. Then a Whimbrel flew across our vision and that confirms it! Four Great-Crested Grebes swam too.

El Pinet gave us one Common Tern. We noticed a Sanderling, one Redshank and a resident Kentish Plover. In the distance Collared Pratincoles. It was only a quick look before heading inland and to Pallet Farm Road and beyond. We stopped at ‘The Monastery’ and four Rollers flew adding to the two previously seen.

The little birds were the stars without any Raptor in sight. Night Herons and Spoonbills are wonderful, the Whimbrel great too although we had hoped to see a Purple Heron before they depart south next month. We will be at it again soon.